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Cognitive impairment (CI) is prevalent in central nervous system demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). We developed a novel tablet-based modified digital Symbol Digit Modalities Test (MD-SDMT) with adjustable protocols that feature alternating symbol-digit combinations in each trial, lasting one or two minutes. We assessed 144 patients (99 with MS and 45 with NMOSD) using both MD-SDMT protocols and the traditional paper-based SDMT. We also gathered participants’ feedback through a questionnaire regarding their preferences and perceived reliability. The results showed strong correlations between MD-SDMT and paper-based SDMT scores (Pearsons correlation: 0.88 for 2 min; 0.85 for 1 min, both p < 0.001). Among the 120 respondents, the majority preferred the digitalized SDMT (55% for the 2 min, 39% for the 1 min) over the paper-based version (6%), with the 2 min MD-SDMT reported as the most reliable test. Notably, patients with NMOSD and older individuals exhibited a preference for the paper-based test, as compared to those with MS and younger patients. In summary, even with short test durations, the digitalized SDMT effectively evaluates cognitive function in MS and NMOSD patients, and is generally preferred over the paper-based method, although preferences may vary with patient characteristics.

Research on neuronal and astroglial markers for predicting outcomes in aquaporin-4 antibody-seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) remains limited. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of blood biomarkers for neuronal and astroglial damage in NMOSD compared with multiple sclerosis (MS). Patients with NMOSD and MS were prospectively recruited, and baseline serum levels of neurofilament light (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) were measured. The correlations between these biomarkers and neurological disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) and cognitive function (iPad-based processing speed test, PST) were analyzed at baseline and two years later. In this cohort of 41 NMOSD and 92 MS patients, blood biomarkers demonstrated distinct patterns of association with current and future outcomes. In NMOSD, sGFAP was consistently linked to neurological disability and cognitive impairment over time, reflecting astrocytopathy with minimal silent neurodegeneration. In MS, sGFAP did not correlate with baseline EDSS but showed associations with future scores. Notably, sNfL was more strongly associated with future PST scores than baseline scores ( p  = 0.005), suggesting ongoing neurodegeneration. These results underscore that blood biomarkers are predictive of both current and future outcomes in NMOSD and MS, with differing patterns reflecting the unique pathogenesis of each disease.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), driven by AQP4-IgG-producing B cells, is effectively managed with B cell depletion therapy (BCDT), such as rituximab (RTX). Although BCDT may reset the B cell compartment, its effects on B cell receptor (BCR) repertoire, clonality, isotype distribution, and somatic hypermutation (SHM) remain poorly understood. To examine how BCDT alters BCR features by comparing BCR repertoires between patients with NMOSD treated with RTX and azathioprine (AZA). From a prospective cohort, we recruited patients with NMOSD, including those on AZA (n = 11) and those 6-12 months post-RTX treatment (n = 9). Immunoglobulin heavy-chain libraries were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq (2 × 300 bp). BCR features analyzed included isotype frequencies, D50 diversity index, top 10% clone fraction, SHM rates, and IGHV and IGHJ gene usage. Age (median 50 years) and disability scores were similar between the groups. In the RTX group, the median time since the last infusion was 9 months. RTX treatment led to a naïve B cell-dominant profile, with significantly reduced IgG1-IgG4 levels and unchanged IgA levels. Clonality was reduced, especially within the IgG isotype. SHM frequency was similar between groups, with no significant differences observed across individual isotypes. RTX also resulted in marked depletion of IGHV3-23, IGHV3-11, and IGHV3-73, along with IgG subclass-specific reductions in IGHV1-18, IGHV1-3, IGHV1-46, IGHV1-69, and IGHJ4. Six to twelve months after RTX treatment, patients with NMOSD display a rejuvenated BCR repertoire characterized by naïve B cell predominance, reduced class-switched clonality, and selective loss of V gene segments. These findings support the mechanism by which BCDT resets pathogenic memory B cells and offer benchmarks for monitoring B cell reconstitution in NMOSD.

Maintenance immunotherapy is effective in AQP4-IgG-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), but how mechanistically distinct maintenance therapies organize the remission immune landscape and its relationship to neurological disability remains poorly defined. We performed integrated multiparameter flow cytometry and plasma cytokine profiling in serial remission samples (up to three per patient) from 28 patients receiving rituximab (RTX, n = 14) or azathioprine (AZA, n = 14). Between-treatment comparisons, within-treatment coupling analyses, and disability-associated immune analyses were conducted using age-adjusted patient-clustered regression models with prespecified false discovery rate control. RTX showed clear target engagement, characterized by profound B-cell depletion, gradual post-infusion reconstitution, and sustained reduction of natural killer T (NKT)-like cells. Beyond lineage depletion, RTX was associated with regulatory remodeling, including a memory-skewed regulatory T (Treg) phenotype and a lower effector-to-regulatory balance. In B-detectable RTX samples, the reconstituting B-cell compartment was transitional/naive-skewed with marked suppression of memory B cells. Although remission-phase cytokines were broadly low, interferon gamma-induced protein 10/CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (IP-10/CXCL10) remained selectively elevated under RTX. Importantly, remission immune architecture differed by therapy: AZA showed a T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT)-linked regulatory disability axis, whereas RTX showed disability coupling to soluble inflammatory mediators, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IP-10. Mechanistically distinct maintenance therapies impose divergent remission immune architectures in NMOSD. These findings support a treatment-aware framework for biomarker interpretation and suggest that remission monitoring should consider therapy-specific immune networks rather than isolated immune markers.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated anti-East Asian sentiment, particularly in the U.S., due to the perception that the virus originated from China, which can be better understood in the context of historical discrimination against Asians in the country despite the ‘model minority’ myth. This study examined if and how the racial discrimination toward East Asians during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Based on existing works of literature suggesting moderating effects of acculturation level and social support on the impact of racism on mental health, this study investigated if these variables played a significant role as either a buffering or a risk factor. This study also analyzed the differences in findings according to different groups of participants, divided by immigration status and the data gathering period. The findings suggested a significant correlation between COVID-19 racism and mental health and some meaningful group differences among different immigration statuses, as well as the data collection period. The meanings and implications of these findings were explored in the field of counseling psychology and social advocacy. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research were also discussed.

We describe the epidemiology of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in a call center in South Korea. We obtained information on demographic characteristics by using standardized epidemiologic investigation forms. We performed descriptive analyses and reported the results as frequencies and proportions for categoric variables. Of 1,143 persons who were tested for COVID-19, a total of 97 (8.5%, 95% CI 7.0%-10.3%) had confirmed cases. Of these, 94 were working in an 11th-floor call center with 216 employees, translating to an attack rate of 43.5% (95% CI 36.9%-50.4%). The household secondary attack rate among symptomatic case-patients was 16.2% (95% CI 11.6%- 22.0%). Of the 97 persons with confirmed COVID-19, only 4 (1.9%) remained asymptomatic within 14 days of quarantine, and none of their household contacts acquired secondary infections. Extensive contact tracing, testing all contacts, and early quarantine blocked further transmission and might be effective for containing rapid outbreaks in crowded work settings.

Acquisition of stabilized video is an important issue for various type of digital cameras. This paper presents an adaptive camera path estimation method using robust feature detection to remove shaky artifacts in a video. The proposed algorithm consists of three steps: (i) robust feature detection using particle keypoints between adjacent frames; (ii) camera path estimation and smoothing; and (iii) rendering to reconstruct a stabilized video. As a result, the proposed algorithm can estimate the optimal homography by redefining important feature points in the flat region using particle keypoints. In addition, stabilized frames with less holes can be generated from the optimal, adaptive camera path that minimizes a temporal total variation (TV). The proposed video stabilization method is suitable for enhancing the visual quality for various portable cameras and can be applied to robot vision, driving assistant systems, and visual surveillance systems.